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USHL Madison Capitols

Payusov Hat Trick Leads Capitols' Dominant Offense to Victory

October 16, 2015 - United States Hockey League (USHL)
Madison Capitols News Release


Plymouth, MI - The Madison Capitols (3-2-0) received a team-record eight goals, including the second hat trick in team history, in an offensive juggernaut of a performance. By night's end, Madison wound up defeating the U.S. U17 National Team Development Program (3-2-0) by a final score of 8-1 at the USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich.

The Capitols got off to a slow start in the opening half of the first period, registering just a handful of offerings on the net of Team USA goaltender Dylan St. Cyr, but after killing off three abbreviated Team USA power plays, the Capitols turned the tide in a hurry.

After Ryan Lohin was denied on a breakaway moments after escaping the penalty box, the Capitols quickly parlayed chances together.

It all started off of a missed shot by the Americans wide of Metcalf's net, where Sam McCormick chased down the loose puck in the offensive right corner and fed a saucer pass to Lohin. St. Cyr made a strong save on Lohin before Alexandre Payusov pounced on the rebound for his first goal as a Capitol at 13:46.

Just 20 seconds later, Luke McElhenie kept the snowball rolling, picking up the puck on a two-on-one down the left side and ripping a wrist shot over St. Cyr to make it 2-0 at 14:06. Like Payusov, it was the Sauk City native's first goal of the young season.

After killing off three abbreviated Team USA power plays, it was Madison's turn on the man advantage following an Evan Barratt head contact minor at 15:17. On the ensuing power play, Charlie Gerard fielded a muted pass from the high slot and snapped a quick wrister through St. Cyr's blocker arm and into the net at 16:25 to give Madison the 3-0 first intermission lead.

At the other end, Garrett Metcalf made the lead stand up, stopping all 13 shots that came his way in the opening period.

McElhenie was far from finished as the second period began, as he found his way to the slot area at 6:15. From there, Eetu Selanne won a puck battle behind the net and slid the puck to McElhenie, who immediately ripped a perfect wrist shot under the crossbar and past St. Cyr to make it 4-0.

With McElhenie reaching the multi-goal plateau, Payusov was next to follow suit, as on Madison's third power play chance of the night, Lohin picked up the puck in the right circle from Tommy Muck and immediately launched a perfect feed to Payusov in the blue paint. The Canadian-born Payusov then redirected it past St. Cyr to give Madison a five-spot at 17:11 and a second power play goal on the evening.

Metcalf continued his best outing of the year at the other end, preserving the Madison lead despite six Team USA power plays through 40 minutes.

The Capitols' power play, on the other hand, continued to dominate on their man advantage, as Lohin connected on a left-side wrister at 3:11 to put the Capitol advantage up to 6-0.

Then it was Selanne's turn to break into the scoring, as he tapped a Daniel Willett pass into the vacant goal at 4:39 for his first USHL goal. Selanne was one of seven Capitols to record multiple points on the night.

After Evan Barratt finally got Team USA on the board on the club's seventh power play to make it 7-1, Payusov picked up his hat trick goal, banking it off a Team USA player to round out the scoring at 16:22. Payusov picked up his first three goals as a Capitol in completing the trick.

Madison, which has now scored 18 goals in its last three games, will look to roll the momentum forward when they re-visit Team USA on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT.

Madison returns to the Alliant Energy Center on Oct. 23 for a three-game weekend set against the Chicago Steel & Bloomington Thunder. Friday, Oct. 23 against Chicago is the first WJJO $1 Beer Night featuring a new beer garden location. The Capitols host Bloomington on Saturday, Oct. 24 for Craft Beer Night, and on Sunday, Chicago returns for Pucks N' Paws presented by Animart, where dogs will be permitted entrance into the Alliant Energy Center.

Tickets for each game are available by calling (608) 257-CAPS or visiting www.MadCapsHockey.com.

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